Minneapolis residents encouraged to share a meal Oct. 24

The City of Minneapolis recently passed a resolution recognizing Thursday, Oct. 24 as Food Day in Minneapolis.

Food Day is a nationwide celebration of healthy, affordable and sustainable food that encourages people to pledge to eat together – to share a meal with families or loved ones. Sharing meals as a family can help children improve academic achievement, language development, physical health and emotional well-being while reducing risks of childhood obesity and substance abuse.

As part of this day Mayor R.T. Rybak, Council Member Cam Gordon, Minneapolis Health Commissioner Gretchen Musicant, Minneapolis Public Schools Superintendent Bernadeia Johnson, Minneapolis Public Schools Director of Culinary and Nutrition Services Bertrand Weber, and Howe Elementary School Principal Deb Regnier will join Minneapolis Public School students and eat together for Food Day to highlight the importance of healthy, affordable and sustainable food for Minneapolis residents.

The City of Minneapolis has a goal around increasing locally grown food. To work toward this goal, the Minneapolis Health Department has provided salad bars to four Minneapolis Public Schools. The Health Department and two local catering companies, Done Right and Caravan Kids Catering, are providing salad bars to five charter/alternative schools. The salad bar donations assist City efforts to prevent childhood obesity.